Layla please stop growing up...5months!

I can't believe I have a 5 month old daughter! Time is going by so fast and she is changing everyday. Layla appears to be a very happy baby. She laughs often, smiles all the time and loves to be out and just watch the world. She is talking everything in and you can tell she is learning so much. The cutest thing ever is that she knows to put her arms up when she wants you to pick her up. It doesn't matter what I am doing if she does this I stop and pick her up, I can't resist. I realize that we have the makings of a spoiled little girl on our hands but I just melt when I see the arms go up. One concern I have is that she really is unable to play by herself. When she is awake she seems to need your undivided attention. She will play on her mat for about 5 minutes before realizing you are not there and the tears come. Any activity is short lived if you are not around. I get the house work done in quick sessions before the tears. I am not sure if this is normal for her age but I hope she learns to play independently soon! I told Jatovi that I am worried about her being spoiled. Jatovi continues to run to her every time she wakes during the night and I keep telling him"we are creating a spoiled alittle girl" Jatovi will say "she is our only child she deserves to be spoiled" my response is I will remind you of that when she is lying on the ground in Target screaming because she isn't getting what she wants. Jatovi feels this is a "brat" not a spoiled child. So we will see???


We are working on sitting. Layla is able to sit for a few seconds unsupported but at this point does require alittle help. Her hair is starting to finally grow, still have a way to go but it is starting. She has started to make the cutest noise and she does it ALL the time. She breaths out, at the same time her lips are closed. So cute!


Sleep...what to say about sleep? I guess we have made progress but until she goes to bed and doesn't wake until the sun is up I won't be happy. She will sleep 7 hrs at a time some nights.She goes to bed around 6, getting up to eat at 11 and 4 and then up for the day around 9am most days. We are trying to get her to stay up later but she is like her Mommy and likes to go to bed early. Layla will only be up for about an hour and then her morning nap. Afternoon naps are short and she only takes 1 or 2. So because of this we are trying to get a better afternoon nap in so she may stay up later. Many people have said that this is not bad for 5 months but I am hopeful to get a longer stretch during the night and not one that starts at 6pm.


As for me, I have never been happier! I continue to breastfeed and although I HATE it during the night I don't mind it during the day.It is easy and free. My goal of 6 months is fast approaching so we will see if I am ready to stop. Jatovi and I are in a great place in our marriage and the 3 of us love hanging out. Several people have said "that mother hood agrees with me" and I would say they are right. I do think some of it is because I really didn't think it would be that great. I didn't think I would feel what everyone else does about being a parent. I have been so scared "to screw" up a child that I never thought about the good things that would come with it. This experience is SO much better than I ever thought it would be. I did not know how great loving someone this much would be. Layla has changed my life in so many ways and made me so happy. I know everyone says that but it really is true for me. Don't get me wrong at 4am I am still miserable and I am still terrified that I will do something wrong but I just keep doing my best and trying to enjoy her.


What I want to remember from this month is the pure joy I have been feeling every time she raises her arms for me to pick her up. It is selfish but I love having someone want me and only me! It is a great feeling!

A Trip to Grammie and Grampas

On September 13 Layla and I were off to Canada again. It was easier for us to fly up than my parents to come down because my schedule leaves me with several days off in a row. The trip up was great, Layla was so good. We left NC at 1630 and didn't get to Buffalo until after 1900. We then had to drive the 2 hrs to Fergus. Needless to say it was way past Layla's bedtime..but she handled it so well. Cuddled up in my arms she slept most of the way.During our layover she did start crying ( it was around 1800, her usual time to go to bed) but it lasted only a few minutes and she was asleep before the plane took off. The way home was even better no tears!
The weather so so nice...very cool. She got to wear winter sweaters and long pants. We got to bundle her up and take her for walks around Fergus, I loved every minute. My parents had gone nuts as usual and bought her so much stuff. Layla is so lucky to have so many people who love her. Jatovi and I will never be able to thank them for all they have done for us. With every purchase they make, it makes our lives a little easier.
Bringing Layla "home" makes me so proud. I want her to grow up with fond memories of her grandparents. Watching them with her is so amazing and special to me. My dad melts when she smiles at him and my mom teaches me so much. I have become so close to my mom and I couldn't be happier. The only thing I wish is that they lived closer. I have a great life here but really wish they could be part of our lives everyday. When I leave them now I am already thinking about the next time we will be together. I hope I can be half the mother my mom is. As an adult child looking back on my childhood, I can respect the challenges my mom faced and respect her for the decisions she made. I can't wait for November when Grammie and Grandpa come here!

The Sleep Training Continues

I had to work this weekend so I has hoping the "sleep training" we had done would pay off so I could get some sleep before work. Although it wasn't prefect it was close. She went to bed as usual around 7 waking up for her "last" feed around 10-11. The problem is still 4am! The last 3 mornings she wakes and cries until she is fed.I should be thankful it is not 2am, but since I get up at 5 for work this is still frustrating. Can you please wait until 5 then I don't have to get up early?

Night Three

So second night with no 2am feed! She seemed to get it right away...last night she went from 1115 until 4am asleep. At 4 she woke and cried on and off a few minutes and then fell asleep again until 0450. I got up and fed her then. My goal was 11-5 and this was close enough...but really I didn't want to fall asleep again just to have to get up at 6. I am so glad the doctor told us to do this...if not I am sure I would be getting up several times a night to feed her still.
She said it would take 3-4 nights and really it took 1...but lets hope it keeps getting better!

Night Two...This might work!

So night two was even better! Bedtime was 7pm...and she slept until 1145. Up for a quick feed and diaper change and back to bed in under 15 minutes. At 4am she woke and cried on and off for 8minutes. For the next 10minutes she called out a few times but was not crying and then back to sleep until 6am! Feed and back to bed until 9am..up for the day!
I am trying not to get to exicted, but I am hoping for even better tonight!

"Sleep Training" Night One

At our 4 month appointment the Doctor suggested "sleep training" to get Layla to sleep through the night. She assured us that she was physically ready, in fact she had been for awhile. She said Layla could have weeks ago and by 15lbs they are ready, well since Layla is well past the 15lb mark it is time to follow the doctors advice.
Her advice was simple...stop feeding her! The doctor said my goal of skipping the 2-3am feed was a good one because she could easily go 11-5 with out a feed. So Jatovi and I decided to try it. She claims in 3-4days she would no longer wake to eat.
Night one:
Bed at 7...feed at 10pm (plan for this to be the last one of the night!)
11pm...cried for 35 min. Jatovi and I both went in and gave her her pacifier and moved her back into the middle of the crib(she likes to hang her arms and legs out the side and then gets mad because she can't move them)
2am...cried for 20 mins same as above
3am...cried for 5 min and neither of us went to her.
She didn't wake again until 0622! And then really didn't want to eat a lot just a quick snack and back to bed until her usual 9am wake up. So clearly she didn't need the food she was been getting at night.
It felt horrible to not "fix"it..when I knew all I needed to do was feed her and the crying would stop. But the doctor said 2 very important things to us
1. This is when you decide what kind of parent you are going to be
2. Sleep is the first thing you teach your child to do independently
This helped get me through the night. I don't want her to be a 2 year old still waking up, and I plan to teach her to be a strong independent women. So I will stay strong!
I just hope Jatovi can...I think it was the hardest on him...he hates to hear her cry!

4 months!

Can you believe it 4 months! Layla was off to the doctors to get her 4 month check up..which included more needles.

Lets start with her stats...16lbs (yup you read it right) 23.5inches long. 92% in weight...so big! Which of course we already new because of the size of her thighs and clothes. She wears anything from 3-6months to 9 month sleepers. Her thighs get stuck in her bumbo everyday. The doctor is not worried about her weight because it is all breast milk. The doctor was impressed with her head control and in fact thinks she may be able to sit on her own soon. Her check up was good, the doctor has no concerns. The needles were better for me this time. She did scream so loud and held her breath as she cried but as soon as Jatovi picked her up she stopped. And no tears from mommy! Next appointment 6 months..and yes there will be needles!

As for Layla she is absolutely adorable. She has made so much progress this month. Rolling over all the time, sitting in her pink car or her jumper, eating less often(at least during the day) we are working on night feeds. She goes to bed every night without any trouble, bath,nurse/bottle and bed. Her purple cry seems like a life time ago(Thank the lord)
The routine I was so desperate for seems to be here, and it has really helped me. This includes a lot of play time. Layla spends a lot of time on her play mat. She seems to like it, but not as much as standing. Standing and pulling herself to a standing position is by far her favorite things to do. This is something she will do for hours. Because of this she is getting so strong, and I think I am as well, she does weigh 16lbs!
Even though I have been so proud many times this month nothing has made me happier than the first time I heard her giggle! I want to remember that sound forever! She giggles for me every couple of days and it always includes dancing and her standing up. I am sure she has been giggling for her daddy for awhile but he let me think I heard her first.

Rice Cereal...umm not ready!

So I gave in yesterday to the pressure from Layla's Grandmothers and tried to feed her rice cereal. Well I don't think she is ready!( Which is what I said all along!) She isn't even 4 months old yet and the most doctors say you can start trying between 4 and 6 months. Others say nothing but breast milk until 6 months...I don't know the right answer. But I do know that it really just pissed her off! The first few spoon fulls were ok, although I don't think she swallowed much. But after that she just got mad, it seemed like she thought it was her bottle and I was putting it in her mouth then taking it out. She was trying to suck the spoon...and boy did she get angry. It was fun trying but I think we will wait a few weeks before we try again!

Rolling over!

So my big girl is rolling over. The first time she did it on her own was July 29. She is rolling from her back to stomach the most although she has gone the opposite way a couple of times. She hates tummy time unless she is sleeping so when so rolls from stomach to back it is usually in a fit of rage. This mile stone has helped in the sleeping department as well. Since she is able to roll her self onto her belly we allow her to sleep like that. This makes me very nervous due to the increased risk of SIDS however we can't run in and turn her over every 2 minutes. We have a movement monitor so I do feel a bit better. She will sleep easy 4-5hrs at a time some times longer, however not all night. She does still want a 2am feed. In fact she wakes up most nights at 2am no matter what time she ate last at, but we give her her pacifier and she will usually fall back to sleep. When will she sleep all night??
She is gaining weight and very long. Her sleeper are for 9months! She weighs over 14lbs..crazy! It will be interesting at her 4month appointment to see what percentile she is..won't be surprised if her is off the chart!
She is growing up so fast, she has found her voice and even has giggled a few times. This doesn't happen everyday yet but we are close. The coos and coos are so cute and come with the biggest cute smile ever.
Have I mentioned that she is beautiful? Well I tell you...she is the most beautiful baby I have ever seen..and I have seen a lot! Not that I am biased or anything!

Back to Work

I went back to work this weekend. It was better than I thought. I had been so worried about leaving her, but it turned out ok. Both mornings she woke me up before my alarm, so I was able to nurse her before I left. Once I got to work I tried not to think about her and just focus on work. She was at home with her Daddy and he is so wonderful with her. I had no reason to worry about her safety. The only problem is and will always be...he is so easy going. He really didn't follow the routine her and I have nor did he focus on the clock and have her eat and sleep on time like I do. The change did have her up more Saturday night, but jatovi got up with her so I could sleep. Grannie came and stayed with her from 5pm until I got home. I think she cried a lot for her. Poor Grannie, Layla should have given her a break. Really I think she was sleepy and needed to go to bed. One good thing was she was still awake when I got home...and boy did I need that. My third shift back she was in bed and I was almost in tears thinking I wouldn't get to see her...but she woke up 10 minutes after there!
I was able to pump at work 3 times each shift, so my new goal is to breastfeed until 6 months! Boy I can't believe I am still breastfeeding and at this point I don't mind it. It took 3months but the hate is gone and now I try to focus on the positive..it is best for her, it is free, and easy. Now I just have to hope my milk doesn't dry up...that would be my luck just as I am getting use to it!

12 weeks

We are 12 weeks into our journey with Layla. I must say it is getting better and better everyday. She now smiles all the time, she coo's and makes lots of sounds, and is less fussy. Now if she would sleep through the night she would be perfect!

A day with Layla starts about 7-730...when she wakes for the day full of smiles. This current routine has been around for about 2 weeks. I am not sure when it will change again because it changed over night. She went from going to bed at 9, and eating at 1 and 5...to going to bed by 6:30 and eats at 11, 2 and 5. After she gets up and dressed for the day it is play time but only for about an hour when she falls back to sleep for a short morning nap. The rest of the day she wakes and sleeps on a 2 hr schedule. After about 2 hours of play she will sleep for anywhere from 20-60mins at a time. Now what does play include..well her bumbo chair, bouncy chair or mom/dad making faces at her. She prefers one on one time with either of us. She loves to sit and watch you, smiling back. I am still breastfeeding, although we have tried bottles of breast milk at bedtime to see if she will sleep longer..which did not work. We also tried adding rice cereal to it..which also did not work, so straight up breastfeeding it is. I really like to sleep so the sooner she sleeps through the night the better. I really just want her to sleep from 11-5...I don't think I am asking too much!
Her eyes are almost completely brown now. There is a firm of grey left around the outside, but the inside is a light carmel brown. Her hair is getting longer. The top middle is the longest and it curls up, and the back stays straight after it drys. The sides have the least amount of hair because she sleeps on her side so it is worn off. Her thunder thighs are her biggest part on her..the rest seems to have balanced out with her length, she is really tall.
Her face always has little cuts on it..from her nails. Jatovi and I have tried to cut them but we clearly haven't done that great of a job.
What I want to remember from this month is our trip home to Canada and how fun it is to watch her smile. One day her just looking at me won't cause the joy it does now for her. If only when she was 15 would her face light up this way when she sees me!

Maybe a left hander?

Well over the past 2 days Layla won't stop sucking her hands. Well Grandaddy came over and while holding her noticed this. He asked me if it is always her left hand. Well yeah it is!! So it is sometimes her right hand but mostly her left. Jatovi nor I had thought about this but does that mean she may be a lefty! Again who knows but if she is today was the first day we thought about it. As far as I know they only lefty's are Mycal and Myla. Only time will tell.